Current Senate Rated Second Worst on Record

This year’s Senate is the second worst on record, coming in just behind last year’s, according to The Washington Times' third semiannual Legislative Futility Index.

The rating found that the Senate is doing less legislating now than at any time since 1947 when data was first compiled and published.

The paper’s futility index is based on such things as time spent in session, number of pages compiled in the Congressional Record, number of bills passed, and votes taken. The numbers are drawn from the Resume of Congressional Activity compiled by House and Senate clerks at the end of each month.

Through June 30, the Senate had a futility score of 16.4. That number was nearly twice last year's historic low of 8.6 score. The House scored 34 on the Futility Index. The number ranks in just in the top half when compared with previous House sessions.